Machine Gun Corps (Motors)

died 27th January 1917

aged 23

Son of William Jackson and Jean BainWoodholm, Bridge of Weir

His Life

Brothers Andrew and George Jackson lost their lives during World War I. Andrew was born on 22nd January 1894 at 8 St. Alban's Terrace, Partick, the son of William Cowan Jackson, from Glasgow, and Jean Lang Bain, from Kirkintilloch who had married on 8th August 1890 in Glasgow. Andrew's known siblings were George and William M, both also born in Partick.

In 1891 William (33) and Jean (27) were living in 8 Highburgh Road, Partick, Glasgow. William was a Sugar Merchant. Grace Chisholm (13) from Keith, Banffshire, was their domestic servant.

By 1901, they had three sons and were living in Highburgh, Donaldfield Road, Bridge of Weir. The three boys, including Andrew (7), were all at school. Elizabeth McGibbon (18) and May Hamilton (18) were domestic servants.

By 1911 the family had moved to Woodholm, Ranfurly, Bridge of Weir and William senior was still a sugar merchant. George was a clerk to a provision merchant; Andrew (17) was a stockbroker's clerk; William junior was still at school. There were no servants in residence.

Gunner Andrew Jackson joined the Motor Machine Gun Service on enlistment. The Motor Machine Gun Service was formed in 1914 and incorporated into the Machine Gun Corps in 1915. Motorcycle sidecar combinations were fitted with a Vickers machine gun and a battery usually consisted of 18 motorbike sidecar combinations, 8 motorcycles without sidecars and 2 or 3 cars or trucks. Recruits to the MMGS had often been members of motor cycle clubs before the war and they were selected for their motorcycling abilities and taken from other regiments.

According to the Glasgow Academy Roll of Honour he was invalided before he joined a theatre of war and died on 27th January 1917 and was buried in Kilbarchan Cemetery. His death is recorded in Banchory, as a patient at the Nordach-on-Dee sanatorium where he was being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Andrew was five days into his twenty-third year.